To ask the Minister of Health to detail the monitoring his Department carries out to ensure that delays in urgent cancer referrals do not result in avoidable harm or late diagnoses.

I acknowledge that current performance against cancer waiting time targets, including red flag outpatient assessments and diagnostics, is unacceptable. These delays are deeply concerning and can have serious implications for patient outcomes. This situation has arisen due to several factors, including funding that falls short of objectively assessed need and previous missed opportunities to reform health and social care delivery. I am committed to addressing this, subject to available funding.

Despite these pressures, the Department of Health (DoH) actively monitors cancer performance through regular performance meetings with each Trust. These meetings are used to identify emerging issues and discuss mitigating actions to improve service delivery and patient safety within existing resources or via waiting list initiatives.

In addition to cancer-specific performance monitoring, the Department also tracks elective and diagnostic waiting times more broadly, which directly impact the timely diagnosis of suspected cancer referrals. The Elective Care Framework (ECF) sets out a strategic roadmap for tackling waiting lists and building sustainable capacity across the system.

To ensure transparency and accountability, the Department regularly publishes waiting time statistics, making this information available to the public, patients, and stakeholders. We also engage with clinicians, patient representatives, and external bodies to inform continuous improvement and ensure that patient safety remains at the forefront of our approach.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) plays a vital role in collecting, analysing, and publishing comprehensive data on cancer incidence, survival, and outcomes across the region. NICR reports provide valuable insights into trends in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival, and help inform service planning and quality improvement efforts.

The Department remains committed to improving cancer waiting time targets and ensuring that delays do not result in avoidable harm. However, sustained investment and system-wide reform are essential to achieving this goal.